The MWFX Hard Sync is a synth effect repurposed for guitar and bass. Hard sync is a synthesizer technique in which one waveform is reset at the frequency of a second one to achieve a rudimentary harmonic effect. In the Hard Sync, MWFX uses your guitar note as master or slave to one of two oscillators, so the guitar signal is made up of the oscillator frequency, or the oscillator is made up of the guitar signal, depending on the setting. MWFX says the notes are kept within the audible range to create industrial sounding distortions, ringing tones and bright, thickened synth sounds1.
It sits in the same family as other synth pedals such as the Electro-Harmonix Micro Synthesizer or the SubDecay Octasynth, but its approach is oscillator sync rather than filter or octave synthesis. For more on the wider category, see Synth Pedals.
How the circuit works
MWFX describes the Hard Sync as applying the hard sync concept to a guitar pedal as a unique alternative to the Fuzz Face circuit. Rather than clipping the signal the way a fuzz does, the pedal locks one oscillator to another, with your guitar note acting as master or slave to one of the two oscillators1.
The pedal is similar to MWFX's 2008 Auto Sync. In both, the oscillators can be set to a fixed frequency or controlled by an envelope follower, which tracks how hard you play and moves the oscillator pitch in response12.
The 2025 prototypes carry this feature set2:
- Envelope follower with adjustable response
- 2 synced and gated oscillators
- 6 voicing variations
- Velocity based amplitude
The Hard Sync is listed as out of stock. MWFX has announced a small batch resale of the 2014 Hard Sync in 2025, with sign-up through the company's mailing list at www.mwfx.co.uk/thelist1.
Versions and availability
The pedal was first released in 2014, and the current product page lists it as "2014 Hard Sync by MWFX - Small Batch Resale 2025", pointing to a limited reissue run1. The maker's page on the reintroduction describes the 2025 prototypes as featuring an envelope follower with adjustable response, 2 synced and gated oscillators, 6 voicing variations and velocity based amplitude, while the product page separately lists 6 implementations of Hard Sync effects12. It is listed at £ 290.00 GBP and shown as out of stock1.
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Questions
What does hard sync do to a guitar signal?
Hard sync is a synthesizer technique where one waveform is forced to restart at the frequency of a second one. In the Hard Sync, MWFX uses your guitar note as master or slave to one of two oscillators, so the guitar signal is made up of the oscillator frequency, or the other way around. MWFX says the notes are kept within the audible range to create industrial sounding distortions, ringing tones and bright, thickened synth sounds.
Is the MWFX Hard Sync based on a Fuzz Face?
Not directly. MWFX describes the Hard Sync as applying the hard sync concept to a guitar pedal as a unique alternative to the Fuzz Face circuit. It is a synth effect repurposed for guitar and bass, similar in approach to MWFX's 2008 Auto Sync, rather than a Fuzz Face derivative.
Is the MWFX Hard Sync currently in stock?
No. The MWFX product page lists the Hard Sync as out of stock as of late October 2026. MWFX has announced a small batch resale of the 2014 Hard Sync in 2025, with sign-up through the company's mailing list at www.mwfx.co.uk/thelist.
What is the difference between the Hard Sync and the Auto Sync?
The Hard Sync is similar to MWFX's 2008 Auto Sync. In both, the oscillators can be set to a fixed frequency or controlled by an envelope follower. The Hard Sync adds two synced and gated oscillators, six voicing variations, an envelope follower with adjustable response and velocity based amplitude in the 2025 prototypes.
How much does the MWFX Hard Sync weigh?
MWFX lists the Hard Sync at 0.5 kg, with dimensions of 112 × 90 × 55 cm on the product page.
Sources (2)
- HARD SYNC, MWFX (mwfx.co.uk)
- FEED | MWFX, MWFX (mwfx.co.uk)
